Reasons for Procedure

A heart transplant is done if you have:

End stage heart disease that is life threatening and cannot be fixed with medication or other surgeries, but you are in otherwise good health—This is most often due to
cardiomyopathy
, which is a disease of the heart muscle, along with severe congestive heart failure.

What to Expect

Prior to Procedure

There is a shortage of donors, so you may be on a transplant list for some time. You may need to carry a cell phone with you at all times. This is to allow the transplant team to reach you if a donor heart becomes available.

You may need to stay in the hospital for monitoring. You may need to be on continuous IV medications to help stabilize the function of your diseased heart. Some may need to have a mechanical pump called a ventricular assist device (VAD). The device will help to stabilize your heart while you are waiting for a transplant.

Before the procedure:

Your doctor will monitor your health to make sure that you are ready for the heart transplant.

Talk to your doctor about all medications you are taking. You may be asked to stop taking some medications before surgery.

Do not take over-the-counter medication without checking with your doctor.

Arrange for a ride to and from the hospital.

Arrange for help at home after the surgery.

Eat a light meal the night before the surgery. Do not eat or drink anything after midnight.

Tests to exclude diseases in other organ systems that may prevent you from receiving a transplant

Anesthesia

General anesthesia
will be used. It will block pain and keep you asleep through the surgery. It is given through an IV.

Description of the Procedure

After you are asleep, the doctor will cut through the skin and breastbone. The chest will be opened and you will be connected to a heart-lung machine. This machine takes over the functions of the heart and lungs during surgery. Your heart will be removed. The donor heart will be prepared and sewn into place in your chest. Next, the blood vessels will be connected. After this, the blood will start to flow and warm the heart.

The new heart may begin beating on its own, or you may be given an electrical shock to get your heart started. For safety, you will also have a temporary pacemaker attached to the heart to help the heart beat stay regular. After the doctor is sure that the heart is beating fine, the blood will be rewarmed. The heart-lung machine will be disconnected. Next, temporary tubes may be placed in the chest cavity to drain any blood that has collected. The chest will be closed with stainless steel wires. Lastly, the skin will be closed with absorbable sutures.

Immediately After Procedure

You will be closely monitored in the intensive care unit (ICU) with the help of some/all of the following:

Heart monitor

Pacing wires used to help the heart beat normally

Tubes connected to a machine that helps drain excess blood and air

Breathing tube, until you can breathe on your own

Medications to support heart function

An IV

You will also have your vital signs monitored.

How Long Will It Take?

8 hours

Will It Hurt?

You will have pain during the recovery process. You will be given pain medication.

Average Hospital Stay

This procedure is done in a hospital setting. The usual length of stay is at least two weeks. Your may need to stay longer if you shows signs of rejecting the new heart or have other problems.

Post-procedure Care

At the Hospital

While you are recovering at the hospital, you will need to:

Breathe deeply and cough
10-20 times every hour.

Take immunosuppressive drugs—You will likely need to take these for the rest of your life. These drugs reduce the chance that your body will reject the new heart.

Take measures to prevent blood clots, such as wearing compression stockings

Have blood tests

Your doctor may need to take a
biopsy
of your heart routinely and additionally as needed if you:

Have persistent fever

Have poor heart function

Do not feel well

At Home

When you return home, do the following to help ensure a smooth recovery:

Return as prescribed by your transplant cardiologist for follow up biopsies.

Work with a physical therapist. Keep in mind that your new heart will respond slowly to increases in physical activity.

Be sure to follow your doctor's
instructions
.

Call Your Doctor

After you leave the hospital, contact your doctor if any of the following occur:

Signs of infection, including fever and chills

Redness, swelling, increasing pain, excessive bleeding, or discharge from the incision site

Changes in sensation, movement, or circulation in your arms or legs

Changes in the location, type, or severity of pain

Chest pain, pressure, or a return of your previous heart pain

Fast or irregular heart rate

Pain that does not improve with the medications you have been given

Cough or shortness of breath

Coughing up blood

Severe nausea or vomiting

Sudden headache or feeling faint

Waking up at night due to being short of breath

Excessive tiredness, swelling of feet

Pain, burning, urgency, frequency of urination, or persistent bleeding in the urine

In case of an emergency,
get medical care right away
.

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

What is a heart transplant?
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website. Available at:
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/ht/ht%5Fwhatis.html. Updated January 3, 2012. Accessed September 30, 2014.